Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

bothersome

American  
[both-er-suhm] / ˈbɒð ər səm /

adjective

  1. causing annoyance or worry; troublesome.

    Synonyms:
    galling, vexatious, irksome, irritating, annoying
bothersome British  
/ ˈbɒðəsəm /

adjective

  1. causing bother; troublesome

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bothersome

First recorded in 1825–35; bother + -some 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Briton has also switched to a platform serve, meaning he stands with his feet slightly wider to allow a smoother transfer of weight, in an attempt to alleviate pressure on the bothersome bruised humerus.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Still, it’s bothersome that a world-famous abuser was among the cohort who’ve been misreading and misrepresenting Nabokov’s “love affair with the English language” since its release.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2025

There are still kinks to work out in the process, stretches where Glasnow’s old bothersome feelings will inevitably still arise.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2025

What does that say about pop culture that that is so bothersome to you?

From BBC • May 30, 2024

There is something about Tara’s behavior that Celia finds bothersome.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.